With life's fast pace and our continued responsibilities, it is hard to believe that there are just two Sunday's left in our 40 Days of Community. With this season coming to an end and bringing us into a season of celebration, we would ask that you consider taking a moment to reflect on Thanksgiving.
Where does your thankfulness come from?
For many this is a season of family traditions, travel, turkey, pumpkin pie, football, and story-telling. For some it may just be another day on the calendar or even a season that reminds them of loss. Maybe this year is especially difficult for you and your family and it seems down right impossible to take on an attitude of thanks. But one thing is for sure, no matter where you are on your journey in life, this can be a season of thanksgiving.
Our Father has given us a gift so unique, so precious, and so remarkable. He has given us something we can't repay, something we can only share! We are His children and by His grace each of us has much to be thankful for. By choosing to be thankful and expressing gratitude, lives can be changed and God can be glorified.
Can you give thanks and express gratitude?
Authentic thankfulness is contagious. It is unable to be capped and bottled. It is active and passionate giving of what God has given us. When our focus is on being thankful of all that God has given us, we sacrifice to share it. We go out of our way to give people appreciation and gratitude in ways that they will be thankful. Thankfulness produces giving.
What can you give?
We don't need to complicate the gift of giving. In the famous words of the Nike marketer, "Just Do It". In your time of thankfulness, find whatever you can give and share it. Maybe this is a season in which you can share an encouraging word with your co-worker. Maybe this is a season you give time to someone in need of your ear and heart. Maybe it's time to step-up into service. Maybe this is a season in which you share your dinner table with a neighbor. Maybe it is time to give some of your financial earning to someone with need. Or maybe it is finally that time you give your life to Christ. In the spirit of thankfulness, God will be glorified and you will be satisfied!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
What are YOU leaving behind?
I don’t know about you, but I’m the kinda person who seems to over analyze and strategize. The kinda person who looks ahead thinking of ways to prepare and compare. Maybe you’re a bit like me. Maybe things have or seem to be so complicated that you dig deep to fix things and work at giving the right answer. Maybe you have your calendar plotted for the next several years because that seems to be the only way to keep life on course. I wonder if there is anyone in the room today that may fit into this category.
Your everyday routine is full of activities and events saturated with things that you must do! Your focus is given on moving in and out of the task until the day is over and you can stop, sleep, and start again in the morning. You are driven, but sometimes it seems as if your job, your children, your spouse, your friends, maybe even your church is driving! Now, obviously these are all great things. To be a loyal employee, a wonderful father or mother, an amazing spouse, or an unconditional friend.
But have you ever asked what am I leaving behind?
We have a friend named Linda that was diagnosed with cancer several months ago. After months of treatment with chemo, Linda was told she was cancer free. We celebrated. Several months later her health declined and spent up and down times in and out of the hospital. Through all of this she has had family and friends by her side. Just recently she was told that she only has 1-2 weeks to live.
You see… most of the time it takes tragedy to get our attention. Maybe you are going through something like this right now. Maybe things are just a mess in your life and it seems too complicated to fix it. Maybe you are even thinking, “What do I even have to offer that is worth leaving behind?”
Well, I’ve come to one great conclusion in my many years on this earth. No matter how educated you are, how much money you make, you polished your family may seem, and out of all your efforts, all your tasks, and all your life the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
You see a person like Linda knows God is good by His people expressing themselves through love. You see… we have been given the gifts of faith, hope, and love. These are our spiritual possessions.
Are you sharing them…?
ACTS 4:32-34
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them.
Many times we read this scripture and just see the practical sharing of the new believer’s. Sharing of material possessions. But there is more than this. They shared everything. Not just tangible things, but time and life. Faith, hope, and love. They sacrificed personal time in order to really know what to share! There were no needy persons among them.
You see… Our love and our faith are the most valuable things we can ever leave behind. And to do so we must slow down and share it.
Some of us may say, “How can I ever do that? There is too much to do and I have so many things that are already on my plate that I have to take care of already.” “This is just the way it is.” “That’s the way life is!” “I’m not free to do this!”
Are you free to do this..?
Galatians 5:1
Freedom in Christ
1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Christ died to set us free. Free from the burdens of this world. Free of the vein desires that we strive for. Free to share our faith, our hope, and our love!
1 Cor 13
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Last night my wife and my niece stayed up for several hours reading an old journal that my father-in-law had written before he pasted. They reflected and basked in the many memories that they experienced and laughed and cried together. Even though I had never met my wife’s father, it was evident that he spent a great deal of his time on earth sharing and expressing his faith through love.
You see... we really don’t need to complicate things or plan that far in advance to share our faith and love. We just need to slow down and do it. Be aware of what God set us free for.
What do you need to do in order to be free?
Your everyday routine is full of activities and events saturated with things that you must do! Your focus is given on moving in and out of the task until the day is over and you can stop, sleep, and start again in the morning. You are driven, but sometimes it seems as if your job, your children, your spouse, your friends, maybe even your church is driving! Now, obviously these are all great things. To be a loyal employee, a wonderful father or mother, an amazing spouse, or an unconditional friend.
But have you ever asked what am I leaving behind?
We have a friend named Linda that was diagnosed with cancer several months ago. After months of treatment with chemo, Linda was told she was cancer free. We celebrated. Several months later her health declined and spent up and down times in and out of the hospital. Through all of this she has had family and friends by her side. Just recently she was told that she only has 1-2 weeks to live.
You see… most of the time it takes tragedy to get our attention. Maybe you are going through something like this right now. Maybe things are just a mess in your life and it seems too complicated to fix it. Maybe you are even thinking, “What do I even have to offer that is worth leaving behind?”
Well, I’ve come to one great conclusion in my many years on this earth. No matter how educated you are, how much money you make, you polished your family may seem, and out of all your efforts, all your tasks, and all your life the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
You see a person like Linda knows God is good by His people expressing themselves through love. You see… we have been given the gifts of faith, hope, and love. These are our spiritual possessions.
Are you sharing them…?
ACTS 4:32-34
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them.
Many times we read this scripture and just see the practical sharing of the new believer’s. Sharing of material possessions. But there is more than this. They shared everything. Not just tangible things, but time and life. Faith, hope, and love. They sacrificed personal time in order to really know what to share! There were no needy persons among them.
You see… Our love and our faith are the most valuable things we can ever leave behind. And to do so we must slow down and share it.
Some of us may say, “How can I ever do that? There is too much to do and I have so many things that are already on my plate that I have to take care of already.” “This is just the way it is.” “That’s the way life is!” “I’m not free to do this!”
Are you free to do this..?
Galatians 5:1
Freedom in Christ
1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Christ died to set us free. Free from the burdens of this world. Free of the vein desires that we strive for. Free to share our faith, our hope, and our love!
1 Cor 13
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Last night my wife and my niece stayed up for several hours reading an old journal that my father-in-law had written before he pasted. They reflected and basked in the many memories that they experienced and laughed and cried together. Even though I had never met my wife’s father, it was evident that he spent a great deal of his time on earth sharing and expressing his faith through love.
You see... we really don’t need to complicate things or plan that far in advance to share our faith and love. We just need to slow down and do it. Be aware of what God set us free for.
What do you need to do in order to be free?
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